Symphony No. 1 (Shostakovich)

The Symphony No. 1 in F minor, Op 10 by Dmitri Shostakovich was 1924/1925 written and first performed on 12 May 1926 in Leningrad by the Leningrad Philharmonic under the direction of Nikolai Malko. Shostakovich wrote the work as his thesis at the Leningrad Conservatory at the age of 19 years.

Sets

The first symphony has four movements:

• Allegretto - Allegro non troppo
• Allegro
• Lento
• Lento - Allegro molto - Largo - Presto

Occupation

Medium-sized orchestra: two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets in B, a trumpet in F, three trombones, a tuba, a bass drum, a drum, a triangle, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, Tam-tam, bells, piano, strings

Comments

This symphony is a lively and witty work with a duration of approximately 30 minutes and is reminiscent of the work of Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Prokofiev. Some motifs of the work attributed to youthful compositions. The transparent and chamber music orchestration of his First Symphony is a contrast to the complex and intelligent Mahler's orchestrations of his later works.

" Bruno Walter, the young composer had played his composition in Leningrad, immediately decided to take a performance in Berlin. " Symphony was an extraordinary achievement for a debut work by a composer. Even today, the symphony is considered one of his best works.